Liquid applicator



July 23, 1968 M. ANDREWS 3,393,962

LIQUID APPLICATOR Filed Dec. 2. 1965 United States Patent Ofiice 3,393,962 Patented July 23, 1968 3,393,962 LIQUID APPLICATDR Maurice Andrews, London, England, assignor to Quill Research & Development Corp., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 511,144 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Dec. 4, 1964, 49,412/ 64 8 Claims. (Cl. 401-132) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cartridge fountain brush includes a body member housing a liquid containing frangible capsule and having a resiliently deformable wall and a head portion. The head portion is provided with an axial bore having an enlarged outer section in which brush bristles are anchored, an enlarged inner section and a connecting intermediate section of small diameter sufficient to inhibit the flow of the liquid except when pressure is applied to the liquid. A filter mass nests in the bore inner section and is spaced from the intermediate bore.

This invention relates to liquid applicators of the type which can conveniently be carried in a purse or pocket. Such applicators are customarily provided for personal use e.g. for applying nail varnish or nail varnish remover, or other cosmetics, or for paint sticks.

It is an object of this invention to provide a liquid applicator from which liquid may controllably be expelled and applied to a surface, e.g. a finger nail or skin without resort to a separate brush and without the need to remove any protective cap or covering from the applicator.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a liquid applicator incorporating a sealed liquid reservoir, the material of which is not susceptible to attack by any of the constituents of the liquid and which thus provides the advantage of an indefinite shelf life for the article.

According to the present invention a liquid applicator comprises a tubular member having a head portion and a hollow cylindrical liquid-containing body portion closed at one end, at least the wall of the body portion being resiliently deformable, the head portion being provided with an axial bore accommodating at its outer end a brush and adjacent the inner end a filter, a portion of the bore between the brush and the filter having a diameter constricted sufficiently to prevent flowing of said liquid therethrough otherwise than when the liquid is forced under pressure.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view, in section, of a liquid applicator and FIGURE 2 is a cross-section through the applicator of FIGURE 1, taken on the line 22.

Referring to the drawing, the applicator comprises a hollow cylindrical body portion 1 of resiliently deformable material, open at one end and closed at its other end by a cap 2, formed integrally with the body portion 1. A thin-walled sealed glass ampoule 3 is inserted within the body portion 1, the ampoule containing the liquid, for example nail varnish, to be applied.

An applicator head portion 4 is inserted within the open end of the body portion 1 and comprises a tubular element formed with an axial bore 5. One end of the head portion 4 has a cylindrical stem 6 dimensioned so as to be retained as a forcefit within the body portion 1, the open end edge of which abuts against an external shoulder 7 formed on the head portion 4.

The bore 5 has a portion 8 of uniform diameter extending for a short distance from the inner end of the head portion and terminating at a point adjacent the external shoulder 7; thereafter the bore gradually reduces in diameter to define a tapered portion for receiving a filter 9. The tapered portion is followed] by a short portion 10 of uniform but reduced diameter. The portion 10 communicates in turn with one end of a constricted neck 11, the purpose of which is to prevent the free flow of liquid therethrough, the diameter of the neck 11 being chosen such that, having regard to the natural viscosity to the liquid employed, the liquid can fiow through the neck 11 only when forced under pressure.

The outer end of the neck 11 opens into a brush holding chamber defined by a short portion 12 of the bore 5 wherein the diameter increases gradually towards the outer end, and a longer portion 13 wherein the diameter gradually decreases towards the outlet 14.

A nylon brush 15 is fitted within the brush holding chamber. The brush consists of a plurality of nylon filaments, laid parallel and doubled over at their mid point, a spring wire clip 16 binding the bight of the nylon filaments and engaging the wall of the portion 12 of the bore so that the bight of the nylon filaments is secured within the bore, with the tops of the filaments extending substantially axially from the outlet 14.

The body portion and head portion are formed of a resiliently deformable plastic material, resistant to corrosion and environmental stress cracking. A particularly suitable material is that sold in the United Kingdom by Imperial Chemical Industries Limited under the trademark Alkathene XDG33.

The filter 9 preferably consists of a plug of plastic foam material, forced into the tapered portion of the bore between the cylindrical portions 8 and 10. The foam material, whilst permitting liquid to pass, effectively prevents the passage of solid particles e.g. fragments of glass from the ampoule, when the latter is broken.

In use, for example as a nail varnish applicator, the body portion, containing the glass ampoule, is squeezed between finger and thumb until the ampoule breaks and releases the liquid into the body portion. By the further application of pressure to the body portion, the liquid is forced through the filter 9 and the constricted neck 11, into the brush 15, whence it may be applied as desired. Control of the quantity and the rate at which the liquid is expelled into the brush is achieved by varying the pressure applied to the body portion 1. When pressure is removed from the body, the latter resumes its original shape by drawing air and/or liquid back into the body portion until the internal and external pressures are equalised. Thus there is no tendency for further liquid to be expelled into the brush.

Whilst in the embodiment described and illustrated, the applicator is in two parts i.e. a body portion and a head portion, it may be made in the form of a one piece moulding, the ampoule being inserted from the bottom end of the body portion, which is then sealed by a cap.

What we claim is:

1. A liquid applicator comprising a tubular member including a head portion having an outlet and a hollow cylindrical body portion, means closing one end of the body portion and the wall of the body portion being resilliently deformable, an axial bore in said head portion communicating with said outlet and including an inner section of relatively large cross-section and in intermediate section of relatively small cross-section connecting said inner section and said outlet, a brush disposed within said outlet; filter means disposed within said axial bore outer section and spaced from said bore intermediate section, said bore intermediate section having a diameter constructed to prevent flow of liquid from within said body portion through said axial bore, otherwise than when said liquid is forced therethrough under pressure resulting from deformation of said body portion, and a rupturable capsule disposed within said body portion, said capsule containing the liquid to be applied by the applicator.

2. A liquid applicator according to claim 1 in which the filter means comprise a plurality of non-absorbent randomly disposed filaments.

3. A liquid applicator according to claim 1 and further comprising a resilient wire clip securing the brush within the bore, and the ends of said wire clip engaging the wall of said bore.

4. A liquid applicator according to claim 1 in which the head portion and the body portion are formed integrally.

5. A liquid applicator comprising a tubular head portion having an axial bore communicating with an outlet, a hollow cylindrical body portion open at one end thereof only, a liquid tight connection between said head portion and said body portion, a rupturable sealed ampoule disposed within said body portion, a brush disposed within said outlet, and extending outwardly thereof, filter means, located within said axial bore adjacent said body portion, said head portion and said body portion being formed of a plastics material resistant to corrosion and environmental stress cracking and the wall of said body portion being resiliently deformable and a portion of said axial bore, between said brush and said filter means, having a diameter constricted to prevent flow of liquid from within said body portion through said axial bore, otherwise than when said liquid is forced therethrough under pressure resulting from deformation of said body portion following breakage of said ampoule said axial bore comprising a first axial section of relatively large cross-section adjacent said outlet, a second axial portion defining said constricted portion, a third axial portion of uniform diameter greater than said constricted portion, and a fourth axial portion the diameter of which increases in the direction away from said outlet, said filter means being disposed within said fourth axial portion of said bore.

6. A liquid applicator according to claim 1 in which the external diameter of that part of the head portion surrounding the constricted portion of the bore is reduced to provide a finger grip.

'7. The liquid applicator according to claim 1 wherein said frangible capsule comprises a thin-walled glass ampoule.

8. A liquid applicator according to claim 5 wherein said ampoule is formed of thin-walled glass.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 752,078 2/1904 Burt et a1. 15608 X 824,688 6/1906 Ferris 15-608 X 1,935,639 11/1933 Keeshan 15-563 X 2,887,708 5/1959 Kane 15-542 3,043,316 7/1962 Bolser 13274.5 3,061,868 11/1962 Miller 15-539 3,152,352 10/1964 Kosik 15539 3,290,717 12/1966 Mizutani 15563 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,130,737 10/1956 France.

377,923 8/1932 Great Britain.

EDWARD L. ROBERTS, Primary Examiner. 

